Expandable Baton With Locking Mechanism

ABSTRACT

A multi-section locking baton includes a manually actuatable release rod extending axially through outer, middle and inner tubes for unlocking first and second cam joints between the tubes. The release rod includes a tip having three sections, including an outermost or distal section that increases in diameter as measured in a direction moving away from the distal end of the tip; an intermediate section that is the widest section of the tip and that has a plurality of relief openings formed in as outer surface; and a proximal section that tapers from the intermediate section to a narrower diameter at the proximal tip end where it is secured onto the release rod. A portion of the release rod tip is located in one of the cams when the baton is in the extended condition. The baton also includes bushings on the inner diameters of the outer and middle tubes, and wear rings on the outer diameters of the middle and inner tubes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Application No. 61/750,570, filed Jan. 9, 2013, by the same inventors, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a locking tubular expandable baton of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,292, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. A baton of this type is a positive lock button release baton, preferably having three tubular sections. Each section successively gets smaller in diameter with the smaller sections telescoping into and out of larger sections in which they are axially positioned. In such a baton, the middle tube and the smaller inner tube are moved outwardly until they are locked in place by a locking mechanism when fully extended. To collapse the sections into one another, a push button is depressed to cause an axially positioned release rod to disengage a first ball bearing locking mechanism holding the middle tube, to permit it to telescope into the larger end section. While the middle tube is telescoping into the larger diameter end section, a second ball bearing locking mechanism holding the smaller section in place relative to the middle tube is caused to disengage by the tip of the release rod so that the smaller end section may telescope into the middle tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a baton that is a first embodiment of the invention in an expanded (open) position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the baton of FIG. 1 in the expanded (open) position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the baton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a release rod tip that forms a part of the baton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a wear ring that forms a part of the baton of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a bushing that forms a part of the baton of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a locking tubular expandable police of the type used by police, for example. The invention is applicable to batons of different and varying constructions. As representative of the invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a baton 10 that is a first embodiment of the invention.

The baton 10 includes an outer tube 12 that is largest in diameter; a middle tube 14 that is smaller in diameter than the outer tube and that telescopes in the outer tube; and an inner tube 16 that is smaller in diameter than the middle tube and that telescopes in the middle tube.

The baton 10 includes two cam joints 18 and 20 that are similar to each other in construction and operation. The cam joints 18 and 20 are similar in construction to the cam joints in the baton of U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,292, mentioned above. At each cam joint 18 and 20, a smaller tube telescopes inside a larger tube.

The cam joint 18 (FIG. 3) includes a cam 18 a on the middle tube 14 that has a central opening, and a ball bearing with balls 18 b movable radially in response to axial movement of the cam 18 a to releasably lock the outer tube 12 with the middle tube. The cam joint 20 (FIG. 2) includes a cam 20 a on the inner tube 16 that has a central opening, and a ball bearing with bails 20 b movable radially in response to axial movement of the cam 20 a to releasably look the middle tube 14 with the middle tube.

A close tolerance bushing 30 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 6) is provided on the inner diameter of the outer tube 12. The bushing 30 is preferably made from a thermoplastic material that is wear resistant. The bushing 30 is located at the distal end of the outer tube 12 and is held in place axially by a snap ring 32. In assembly of the baton 10, the bushing 30 is engaged in a groove 34 (FIG. 6) on the inner diameter of the outer tube 12. When the baton 10 is assembled, a shoulder 36 on the middle tube 14 is engageable with the bushing 30 to limit extension movement of the two tubes 12 and 14. Another bushing 30 a is also provided, in a similar manner, on the distal end of the middle use 14.

When the baton 10 is in the extended position, there is a significant axial distance between the bushing 30, at the end of the outer tube 12, and the cam joint 18. Specifically, in one 24″ extended baton constructed in accordance with the invention, the distance between the cam joint 18 and the bushing 30 is about two inches, which is one and five-eighths inches longer than the corresponding distance in the prior art baton referenced above. This is accompanied by a longer overall length (10″ vs. 8″) when collapsed. This greater “length over diameter” ratio provides greater strength and less rattling.

The bushing 30, which is replaceable, also provides a very close tolerance fit between the outer tube 12 and the middle tube 14. In contrast, the prior art baton rattles because there is a significant air gap between the outer diameter of the inner tube and the inner diameter of the threaded insert on the outer tube. The dimensions of the bushing 30 are therefore selected to provide a close tolerance. There is typically a gap between the tubes themselves of 0.0108″, while the bushing 30 lowers that gap to 0.001″.

Two wear rings 40 are provided on the outer diameter of the middle tube 14, spaced apart axially from each other. The wear rings 40 are located close to the joint between the middle tube 14 and the outer tube 12, between the cam joint 18 and the shoulder 36 on the middle tube. The wear rings 40 are preferably made from PEEK (polyether ether ketone) or another nonmetallic thermoplastic material.

The wear rings 40 are split rings. During assembly, each wear ring 40 is opened radially, slid over the end of the middle tube 14 into a position overlying a groove 42 in the middle tube 14, and allowed to resiliently snap back into the groove. When thus in position, the wear rings 40 extend slightly above the surface of the middle tube 14. That is, their outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the middle tube 14. As a result, they provide a surface on which the middle tube 14 engages the inner diameter of the outer tube 12.

Because the wear rings 40 are formed as split rings, they can enlarge and contract radially a bit during use and operation of the baton 10, to accommodate flexing of the baton, and also to accommodate variations in tube size manufacture. Thus, they act also as “guides”, to flex and give when two imperfectly round tubes are telescoped together. Because two wear rings 40 are provided, spaced axially from each other, they can help to minimize wobbling and rattling of the tubes 12 and 14.

In a similar manner, two wear rings 40 a are also provided on the outer diameter of the inner middle tube 14, spaced axially apart from each other, with the same benefits.

The baton 10 includes a release rod 22 (FIG. 2) for unlocking the cam joints 18 and 20, and a manually engageable push button 24 connected with the release rod for receiving force to cause the release rod to unlock the cam joints. The release rod 22 includes a tip 50 (FIG. 4), secured on the distal rod end opposite the push button 24, that may be made from nylon or another suitable material. The tip 50 has three sections, described herein as including an outermost or distal section 52 that is farthest from the push button 24; an intermediate section 54; and a proximal section 56 that engages the rod 22.

The distal section 52 of the release rod tip 50 is solid. The distal section 52 increases gradually in diameter as measured in a direction moving away from the distal end. The intermediate section 54 of the release rod tip 50 has a substantially constant diameter and is the widest section of the tip. This section 54 has a plurality of openings in the form or relief grooves 58 in its outer surface, to enable the intermediate section 54 to be collapsible radially inward. The proximal section 56 of the tip tapers from the intermediate section 54 to a narrower diameter at the proximal tip end when it is secured onto the rod 22.

When the baton 10 is being extended, the wide intermediate section 54 of the tip 50 enters into the central opening in the cam 20 a of the cam joint 20 (FIG. 2) (moving in a direction from right to left as viewed in the drawings) and engages the cam 20 a, with enough force to cause the cam to move axially under the balls 20 b and cause the balls to move radially outward, thus locking the inner tube 16 with the middle tube 14. The rod tip 50 then pulls completely through the central opening of the cam 20 a of the cam joint 20.

The rod tip 50 then engages and locks the cam joint 18 between the middle tube 14 and outer tube 12, in the same manner. Specifically, the wide intermediate section 54 of the tip 50 enters into the central opening in the cam 18 a of the cam joint 18 (FIG. 3) (moving in a direction from right to left as viewed in the drawings) and engages the cam 18 a, with enough force to cause the cam to move axially under the balls 18 b and cause the balls to move radially outward, thus locking the middle tube 14 with the outer tube 12.

When the baton 10 is thus fully extended the distal section 52 of the release rod tip 50 is disposed in the central opening of the cam 18 a of the cam joint 18, as seen in FIG. 3.

When the push button 24 is pushed to enable the baton 10 to be collapsed, the intermediate section 54 of the rod tip 50 enters into the central opening in the cam 18 a of the cam joint 18 (moving in a direction from left to right as viewed in the drawings) and engages the cam thereat, with enough force to cause the can (and the attached middle tube 14 itself) to move axially. The cam 18 a on the middle tube 14 moves out from under the balls 18 b, allowing the balls to disengage from their groove in the outer tube 12. As a result, the cam joint 18 is disengaged. Upon further extension of the baton 10, the rod tip 50 thereafter engages and opens the cam joint 20 in a similar manner.

In the prior art baton referenced above, the tip of the release rod is free when the baton is fully extended. Thus, when the baton is thereafter collapsed, the rod tip may engage the side of the cam rather than enter into the opening, perhaps damaging or destroying it and hindering operation. In contrast, in the baton 10 of the present invention, when the baton is fully extended, at least a portion of the release rod tip 50 is disposed in the central opening of the cam 18 a of the cam joint 18. Thus, upon commencement of a collapsing operation, the release rod 22 will always enter into and through the cam 18 a of the cam joint 18, without catching or jamming.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in the invention. For example, the locking mechanism is also applicable to batons with other than three sections, such as two section batons. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to he covered by the appended claims. 

1. A multi-section locking baton comprising: an outer tube; a middle tube telescoping within the outer tube, a first locking cam joint connecting the outer tube and the middle tube, including a first cam on the middle tube that has a central opening and a ball bearing with balls movable radially in response to axial movement of the first cam to releasably lock the outer tube to the middle tube; an inner tube telescoping within the middle tube, a second locking cam joint connecting the middle tube and the inner tube, including a second cam on the inner tube that has a central opening and a ball bearing movable radially in response to axial movement of the second cam to releasably lock the middle tube to the inner tube; and a manually actuatable release rod extending axially through the outer, middle and inner tubes for unlocking the first and second cam joints; the release rod including a tip having three sections, the three sections including an outermost or distal section that increases in diameter as measured in a direction moving away from the distal end of the tip; an intermediate section that is the widest section of the tip and that has a plurality of relief openings formed in its outer surface; and a proximal section that tapers from the intermediate section to a narrower diameter at the proximal tip end where it is secured onto the release rod.
 2. A baton as set forth in claim wherein at least a portion of the release rod tip is located in the central opening of the first cam when the baton is in the extended condition.
 3. A baton as set forth in claim 2 wherein the intermediate section of the release rod tip has a substantially constant diameter.
 4. A baton as set forth in claim 2 further comprising: a bushing on the inner diameter of the distal end of the outer tube that circumscribes and engages the outer diameter of the middle tube; a bushing on the inner diameter of the distal end of the middle tube that circumscribes and engages the outer diameter of the inner tube; a wear ring on the outer diameter of the middle tube that engages the inner diameter of the outer tube; and a wear ring on the outer diameter of the inner tube that engages the inner diameter of the middle tube.
 5. A baton as set forth in claim 4 wherein the bushings are replaceable.
 6. A multi-section locking baton comprising: an outer tube; a middle tube telescoping within the outer tube, a first locking cam joint connecting the outer tube and the middle tube, including a first cam on the middle tube that has a central opening and a ball bearing with balls movable radially in response to axial movement of the first cam to releasably lock the outer tube to the middle tube; an inner tube telescoping within the middle tube, a second locking cam joint connecting the middle tube and the inner tube, including a second cam on the inner tube that has a central opening and a ball bearing movable radially in response to axial movement of the second cam to releasably lock the middle tube to the inner tube; a manually actuatable release rod extending axially through the outer, middle and inner tubes for unlocking the first and second cam joints; a bushing on the inner diameter of the distal end of the outer tube that circumscribes and engages the outer diameter of the middle tube; and a bushing on the inner diameter of the distal end of the middle tube that circumscribes and engages the outer diameter of the inner tube.
 7. A baton as set forth in claim 6 further including a wear ring on the outer diameter of the middle tube that engages the inner diameter of the outer tube, and a wear ring on the outer diameter of the inner tube that engages the inner diameter of the middle tube.
 8. A baton as set forth in claim 6 wherein the bushings are replaceable.
 9. A baton as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bushings are replaceable.
 10. A baton as set forth in claim 9 wherein the release rod includes a tip having three sections, the three sections including an outermost or distal section that increases in diameter as measured in a direction moving away from the distal end of the tip; an intermediate section that is the widest section of the tip and that has a plurality of relief openings formed in its outer surface; and a proximal section that tapers from the intermediate section to a narrower diameter at the proximal tip end where it is secured onto the release rod.
 11. A baton as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the release rod tip is located in the central opening of the first cam when the baton is in the extended condition, and wherein the intermediate section of the release rod tip has a substantially constant diameter. 